Amy Jakubowski: International Design

Today in the Lounge Nick speaks with Amy Jakubowski live from BD West in LA. Amy talks about how she she got started in interior design at young age, what she does working for Wilson Associates, and some qualities she looks for in interns.

Getting to Know Amy

On Amy’s coffee table you would find two candles, a book on 1950’s California design, and plant that’s still alive. She loves to travel for work and also takes trips with her friends — this year it’s a jaunt in Croatia. One of her projects has even taken her to Minsk, and she loves going back to Paris. Beer, wine, or cocktail? She loves rosés in the afternoon and reds at night, but if it isn’t a nightcap, she prefers a cocktail.

Click on the image to see the complete portfolio of the Intercontinental Hotel Los Angeles!

How Amy got into Interior Design

Amy’s passion for interior design grew when she was thirteen and drew inspiration from her neighbors, which led her to the classroom on Saturdays for FIT classes and an eventual bachelor’s degree. She worked in the industry part-time while in school and full-time when on breaks, and even had a job offer waiting for her when she graduated. Her first ten years were spent in the garment district, and from there she went to a firm that designed hotels before transitioning from boutique and retail to hospitality.

The Business Today

Amy is currently the Manager and Design Director for Wilson Associates in the LA office, where she manages the ten offices worldwide and a total of 70 projects — from Morocco and Minsk to Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. She says that it’s important to get to know the market you’re in because every place is unique and different, and you have be able to adapt to different cultures.

Click on the image to see the complete portfolio of the Intercontinental Hotel Los Angeles!

What Amy looks for in Interns

When hiring interns at Wilson Associates, Amy looks for an energetic go-getter with computer graphic skills like InDesign, Photoshop and CAD along with a passion for design. Amy also looks to make sure that a student has already done an internship when in the hiring process. She also has a few tips for resumes: a professional resume should include some sample projects but it is important to be concise and personable. Also, be sure to write the point of your objective in your resume. With digital portfolios also keep it simple: balance out your portfolio with technical skills and hand sketches, because it is important for her to see your process. And when you do find an internship (maybe even one with The Chaise Lounge!) be sure to find a mentor and ask a lot of questions! That’s how you learn and get to know what different areas in design are out there.

Chaise Lounge Updates

Get to know Nick this week in Las Vegas at HD Expo, May 2-4. It’s not too late, register NOW!

Last chance to enter the Moore & Giles INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY!!! Follow the instructions on our Instagram Post for your chance to win a FREE tote bag.

Resources

Datacolor– If you’ve ever worked with a Benjamin Moore dealer and asked for a color match, then you’ve probably worked with Datacolor. Now, if you pick up a ColorReader pro, you can color match from home! You can also work with almost all of the color decks, including Benjamin Moore. Visit www.datacolor.com to order one or click the link from The Chaise Lounge Podcast website.

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com. Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

About the Author

Grant is diving into the world of podcasting and interior design as an audio editor, blogger, copy editor and marketing content creator. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Grant has lived on the Front Range for five years and is a political scientist by training but journalist by craft, contributing to newspapers and media outlets in Boulder and Denver. He’s written on a wide range of subjects, including street racing in Denver, animal rights activists that steal chickens slated for slaughter and a mailman who is terrified of dogs. When not spreading the word about the world of interior design, Grant writes fiction and non-fiction, plays music in bars across Denver, and hikes Colorado’s toughest mountains.